8 Weeks

Dear Baby Batts #2,

You are now 8 weeks old! Your organs are developing, your arms and legs are growing longer, and you are getting bigger day by day. We are so thankful for you and so proud of your growth so far.

Thank you for being a great baby. We love you so much already!

Dada and I have been talking about names:

Girl Names We Like:

·       Clara

·       Jane

·       Avis

Boy Names We Like:

·       James

·       Wrangler

·       Declan

It’s hard to believe we won’t see you again until you’re about 20 weeks old… hopefully Memaw and Papa will be able to come up and see you then, too!

Our next appointment with Donna is December 21^st. You are the best Christmas present we’ve received this year.

We love you, little one. Grow strong and healthy!

Love,

Mama

7 Weeks, 6 Days

Dear Baby Batts #2,

Amelia Gelatt emailed Betty and mentioned she heard we were expecting you… so now Betty knows, too! J We are trying to keep you a secret until your sister Ruth turns a year old (on December 4^th) but it’s so hard. We are so excited to meet you and tell everyone about you.

I designed our Christmas cards last week and we signed them, “From Allen, Melissa, Ruth, and Baby Batts #2 (due July 2017!)”. Soon, everyone will know about you!

I felt pretty ill during church today. I had to sit down for a large part of the service, feeling a little light headed and lethargic. I ate a snack halfway through the service and that helped.

Soon you will be sitting in church with our family… I can’t wait to cuddle you!

Love,

Mama

7 Weeks, 2 Days

Dear Baby Batts #2,

On Monday, November 21^st, I gave about a million gallons of blood so they could check for different diseases and whatnot. And today, we got to see you (and hear you!!) for the first time.

You are lovely.

We could see your head, body, and arm and leg buds. We heard your heartbeat – 167 BPM – and it sounded perfect. Donna, our midwife, said that everything looks great! Hallelujah.

You measured in at 7 weeks, 2 days… a little smaller than we thought you’d be. Donna set my due date to July 10^th. A summer baby.

Oh, baby, I have been quite nauseous lately. I’m eating Preggie Pops like they’re going out of business. I’ve been very tired… your dada and I typically go to bed by 8:30 or 9:00pm now… much earlier than we used to!

So far, not many people know about you, but I feel like my tummy – your cozy home – is getting bigger and bigger. Keep growing, little one! We pray for you daily.

Love,

Mama

4 Weeks

Dear Baby Batts #2,

Oh, little one! I found out about you yesterday morning, secretly, in the bathroom in our new house. I had to sneak to take a home pregnancy test so that your dada didn’t find out, too… I wanted to surprise him.

And the test was positive. A second faint pink line appeared on the test within a couple minutes, confirming what I already suspected and quickening my heart.

A second baby!

Later that morning, I whispered in Ruth’s ear, “You’re going to be a big sister!” and she just looked at me. Soon she’ll see.

That night, your memaw and papa came over to babysit Ruthie while dada and I went on a date. I kept my lips sealed while we ate a giant sushi dinner, walked around Target, and bought presents for each other. Dada ordered us Starbucks drinks and we sat in their café to exchange presents.

Dada bought me a travel coffee mug and Legos. I bought your dada a water bottle, Legos, mints… and a “Father-To-Be” card. On the inside, I wrote “Surprise! Baby Batts #2 coming July 2017! Love, Melissa.”

And when dada read that, oh man. He was shocked. So so surprised. And he started smiling so big, baby! We. Are. Thrilled. We are becoming a family of four and that’s so fun to say.

Dada asked me, “Really? Are you really?” and I smiled, answering him, “Yes. I took a test this morning.” I showed him a picture of the second faint pink line and he grinned.

I asked him, “Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” and he said a boy. Only the Lord knows right now, baby!

At this moment, we are in a critical and special place, where your developing body is so minute that anything could happy to halt your growth. I’m praying constantly that you are strong and healthy, that you are growing as you should. On October 31^st, I’m going to take another test; if it is positive, I’ll call the doctor to schedule my first appointment.

In the meantime, I’m taking vitamins. I’m dreaming. And I’m savoring these days with Ruthie. We can’t wait for you to join us, little one, but I want you to be big and healthy first!

All my love,

Mama

6 Months, 4 Weeks Old

Dear Ruthie,

At this point, you have five teeth. You are growing and growing and eating real food and playing independently and love to walk while we hold your hands. You scoot around on your tummy, love to get up on your knees and rock back and forth, and roll over in your bed when you don't want to sleep.

You make sounds allllll the time. You blow raspberries. You yell "MOOOOOOHM!!" when you want me sometimes. You say "Babababababa" and sometimes just move your lips without saying anything.

But now that we have moved into our new house (as of one week ago!), you aren't sleeping that great. For a few days, you slept in our bedroom at night because every time we tried to lay you down in your room, you screamed and fought it. You'd wake up at 1:30am crying inconsolably. You didn't want to take naps. So the other day, I just held you while you napped. We both lounged on our bed, cuddled up close, and rested.

I read this article today and thought of that quiet hour in our bedroom, the sun peeking through our new window, our soft blankets and pillows fluffed around us, your head resting on my chest. As you grow and learn to explore on your own more, I don't want to lose these moments forever.

So I'll carry them here, in my heart, and on the screen, hoping that one day we'll both look back and remember.

I love you more than you'll ever know.

Mama